Hancock to name new police chief soon

Hancock told 9NEWS that 61 candidates have expressed interest in the job. Hancock also says he will not name finalists for the position.

"In order to get the best pool we possibly can we made the difficult decision to say, 'We'll protect the name of our candidates,'" Hancock told 9News Reporter Matt Flener. "This process is not built to name finalists to be honest with you because we have sitting chiefs who are applying for the job. And, they know, some of them say very clearly 'I won't apply if I know my name will be made public.'"

The mayor has asked current-chief Gerald Whitman to step out of that role to bring a culture of change to the police department.

Whitman joined the Denver Police Department in 1982 and has served as Denver's Chief of Police since 2000.

When asked for more perspective on Whitman's departure, Hancock said, "I think the cultural challenges that face the police department have become so deep engrained. And so...I just looked at it and said, 'It's time for a new voice. It's time for a new energy. And it's time to go to a different level.'"

"I just looked at it and said, 'You know what? It may be time where we move Chief Whitman to a different place, and we bring in someone else who can take it to that next level," Hancock said.

On 9NEWS' Your Show, Hancock also spoke about a potential move for the National Western Stock Show, and the latest on the Occupy Denver movement.

Your Show will air on 9NEWS Sunday Morning at 8:30 a.m., and 9NEWS at 5 p.m. Sunday.